[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 7576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3081]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[ES-930-05-1320-020241A]


Amendment to the List of Affected States Under Federal Coalbed 
Methane Recovery Regulations

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Removal of Ohio from the List of Affected States.

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summary: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (the Act) (Pub. L. 102-486) 
requires that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) administer a 
Federal program to regulate coalbed methane development in States where 
coalbed methane development has been impeded by disputes or uncertainty 
over ownership of coalbed methane gas. As required by the Act, the 
Department of the Interior, with the participation of the Department of 
Energy, developed a List of Affected States to which this program would 
apply (58 FR 21589, April 22, 1993). The List of Affected States is 
currently comprised of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
    The Governor of Ohio, Honorable George V. Voinovich, has petitioned 
the Secretary of the Interior for removal from the List of Affected 
States. The Governor's petition states that, on May 17, 1994, he 
notified both Houses of the Ohio General Assembly of his intention to 
petition for deletion from the List of Affected States. During that 
time period each House of the Ohio General Assembly adopted a 
resolution authorizing the Governor to petition for deletion from the 
List of Affected States.
    Section 1339 of the Act provides three mechanisms by which a state 
may be removed from the List of Affected States:

1. A State may pass a law or resolution requesting removal;
2. The governor of a state may petition for removal, but only after 
giving the legislature six months notice, during a legislative session, 
of his intention to submit the petition; or
3. The state legislature implements a law or regulation permitting and 
encouraging the development of coalbed methane.

    Since the State of Ohio has met two of the conditions for removal 
from the List of Affected States by passing a resolution requesting 
removal and by petitioning for removal after notification to the 
legislature by the Governor, the State of Ohio is officially removed 
from the List of Affected States.

for further information contact: David R. Stewart, Chief, Branch of 
Resources Planning and Protection, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern 
States, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153 or telephone 
(703) 440-1728; or Charles W. Byrer, U.S. Department of Energy, 3610 
Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, West Virginia 26507, or telephone (304) 
291-4547.

    Dated: February 2, 1995.
Carson W. Culp, Jr.,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 95-3081 Filed 2-7-95; 8:45 am]
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